{"id":"jw/letters/1765/10-to-lady-maxwell","corpus":"jw-letters","type":"letter","author":"john-wesley","title":"10 To Lady Maxwell","title_alt":[],"text_basis":null,"date_composed":null,"date_precision":"unknown","date_note":null,"numbering":{"bicentennial":null,"jackson_running":null,"sugden":null},"source_edition":{"editor":null,"title":null,"edition":null,"place":null,"publisher":null,"year":null,"volume":null,"pages":null,"scan_url":null,"scan_page_ids":null},"transcription":{"derived_from":null,"corrected_against_scan":false,"corrector":null,"corrected_on":null},"modernization":"none","license_text":"Public Domain Mark 1.0","license_apparatus":"CC BY 4.0","wikidata":null,"prev":null,"next":null,"part_of":"jw-letters","editorial_note":null,"source_id":"jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell","passage_ids":["jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-000","jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-001"],"word_count":579,"themes_auto":["catholic-spirit","christology","universal-redemption","works-piety"],"open":true,"closed_reason":null,"legacy_ids":["jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-000","jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-001"],"passages":[{"id":"jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-000","author":"john-wesley","source_id":"jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell","source_title":"10 To Lady Maxwell","source_type":"letter","year":null,"chunk_index":0,"text":"To Lady Maxwell 8 LONDONDERRY, May 25, 1765. MY DEAR LADY, It is not easy for me to express the satisfaction I received in the few hours I lately spent with you. Before I saw you I had many fears concerning you, lest your concern for the one thing should be abated, lest your desires should be cooled or your mind a little hurt by any of the things which have lately occurred. So much the greater was my joy, when all those fears were removed, when I found the same openness and sweetness as before both in your spirit and conversation, and the same earnestness of desire after the only thing which deserves the whole strength of our affection. I believe tenderness and steadiness are seldom planted by nature in one spirit. But what is too hard for almighty grace This can give strength and softness together. This is able to fill your soul with all firmness as well as with all gentleness. And hereunto are you called, for nothing less than all the mind which was in Christ Jesus. It was with great pleasure that I observed your fixed resolution not to rest in anything short of this. I know not why you should why you should be content with being half a Christian, devoted partly to God and partly to the world, or more properly to the devil. Nay, but let us be all for God. He has created the whole, our whole body, soul, and spirit. He that bought us hath redeemed the whole; and let Him take the purchase of His blood. Let Him sanctify the whole, that all we have and are may be a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving!","word_count":286,"source_url":null,"themes":["universal-redemption","christology","catholic-spirit"],"created_at":"2026-01-29T20:02:39.172567"},{"id":"jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell-001","author":"john-wesley","source_id":"jw-letter-1765-10-to-lady-maxwell","source_title":"10 To Lady Maxwell","source_type":"letter","year":null,"chunk_index":1,"text":"I am not afraid of your being satisfied with less than this; but I am afraid of your seeking it the wrong way. Here is the danger, that you should seek it, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. See how exactly the Apostle speaks: you do not seek it directly, but as it were by works. I fear lest this should be your case, which might retard your receiving the blessing. Christ has died for you; He has bought pardon for you. Why should not you receive it now while you have this paper in your hand Because you have not done thus or thus See your own works. Because you are not thus and thus more contrite more earnest more sincere See your own righteousness. O let it all go! None but Christ! None but Christ! And if He alone is sufficient, if what He has suffered and done, if His blood and righteousness are enough, they are nigh thee! in thy mouth, and in thy heart! See, all things are ready! Do not wait for this or that preparation! for something to bring to God! Bring Christ! Rather, let Him bring you, bring you home to God! Lord Jesus, take her! Take her and all her sins! Take her as she is! Take her now! Arise, why tarriest thou Wash away her sins! Sprinkle her with Thy blood! Let her sink down into the arms of Thy love and cry out, 'My Lord and my God!' Let me hear from you as soon as you can. You do not know how great a satisfaction this is to, my dear Lady, Your ever affectionate servant. Be pleased to direct to the New Room in Dublin.","word_count":293,"source_url":null,"themes":["christology","works-piety","catholic-spirit"],"created_at":"2026-01-29T20:02:39.172622"}]}